The European Union

1. The European Union The View from the USA

2. The Problem The Warsaw Pact and friends • We are emerging from a long period usually called the “Cold War” • During this time, Europe and the US had a common enemy, and so, were linked in a common purpose. • This was never a common identity The "West" Including NATO The "Non-Aligned World" A much simpler world

3. 1989--1990 • With the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, there was no real need for the Transatlantic Alliance, or NATO • It was at that moment that everyone rushed to join NATO.

4. US Support for EEC/EU The US view was that it was better to have the line of Containment with Communism in Europe than in the USA • A strong economy, plus NATO, were seen by the US as essential to prevent the further expansion of Communism • Hence Marshall Plan and support of Treaty of Rome, 1957

5. The “Transatlantic Alliance?” • It never existed, because the US does not make alliances, only coalitions as needed. • True, it lasted a long time, and began to seem like a “normal” state of affairs. Not to the USA `Tis our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances, with any portion of the foreign world; Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies. --

6. So why does NATO Persist? • First, nobody knows what to do with it. • Second, the US pays over 80% of the bills, and controls the air transport and smart weapons • As long as there is NATO, there can be no EU counterbalance to US

7. Unilateralism • The US can afford to be Unilateral because its defense budget is bigger than the next 18 combined. • Also, there is nobody to challenge it, because Europe has to work multilaterally, and that can be ignored (Iraq)

8. Afghanistan and Iraq First Gulf War Coalition Afghanistan • In Afghanistan, NATO invoked Clause 5; the US did not respond • Instead it built a Coalition of all sorts of unlikely places • In Iraq, the US bypassed NATO totally, and built another coalition that divided Europe.

9. Team Player? • The United States has never been a team player for several reasons. • The sacred role of the Constitution means that nothing can challenge the sovereignty of the country or the Liberty of its citizens. • This is one reason why it has a hard time with multi-lateral organizations.

10. The Future • Healthy competition in trade • Imbalance in foreign policy and no counterbalance to US unless EU becomes a state and adopts its Constitution.

11. Enigma • Henry Kissinger said over 30 years ago: “When I call Europe, to whom do I speak?” • That is still true today, because although the EU has many of the attributes of a state, it is not one. Nevezmozhno! Hello? Hello?

12. So, does the US belong anywhere? • It has always regarded the Hemisphere as its area of interest • The Monroe Doctrine, however, is widely misunderstood. • NAFTAFTAA??

13. War on Terror • Many of the ‘terrorists” had a connection with Europe, particularly Germany.